North Shore Chelan Substation

After schedule impacts due to Covid-19, we are preparing to resume design on the new substation in summer 2020, and are still committed to involving the community in the substation design process.

In order to adhere to social distancing practices and protect the health and safety of our customers and staff, the public engagement will look a little different for this project. We intend to shift our outreach activities to online open houses or digital Q&A sessions, and collect feedback via email, surveys, or online conferencing platforms.

Email will be the most efficient way to communicate with interested stakeholders throughout this process. We have created a new targeted email distribution list where we will send more frequent and detailed updates about the design outreach process and solicit feedback at each phase. Please click here to subscribe to that email list if you wish to stay involved in the design phase.

The PUD is always open to hearing feedback from the public. We will update this website regularly as the project moves forward.

Click here to sign up for our new Design Email Update List.



If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to Jenna Rahm.

Design Updates

North Shore Substation Geotechnical Work August 10 - 13

During the week of August 10, you may see a PUD contractor, Nelson Geotech, at the new North Shore Substation site on Henderson Road. They will collect soil samples for geotechnical analysis that will inform the design of the new substation.

Aerial image of the North Shore of Lake Chelan

Project Background

Chelan County PUD has been working closely with the community since 2015 to construct a new substation on the north shore of Lake Chelan, between Chelan and Manson. The two existing substations serving that area, Union Valley and Wapato, are nearing capacity. In November 2017, the PUD, along with community input, selected a site off Henderson Road for the new substation.

For more information about substations, visit our Substation FAQ.

Site Selection

In 2015, the PUD started working with the community and a Focus Group of stakeholders to evaluate 18 potential sites for the new substation. Based on operational and aesthetic considerations, staff and the Focus Group narrowed those sites to two alternatives: one off Boyd Road, 2.3 miles from the intersection with SR150, and one off Henderson Road.

Staff presented the final evaluation of the two sites based on community input and operational decision criteria and selected the site off Henderson Road as the preferred location. In November 2017, PUD Commissioners approved moving forward with purchase of the Henderson Road site.

Map of the Henderson Road susbtation site